Clipper Yacht Race: Hull & Humber Lead the Charge to Brazil

The 2009-2010 Clipper round the world yacht race has already served up a mix of excitement and controversy.

Team Finland is currently top of the table after winning the first leg of the race from the starting port of Hull in the UK to La Rochelle in France.

But both the Hull & Humber and Cork teams were punished for breaching the race instructions and were demoted in the standings.

Hull & Humber, who are currently leading the second leg of the race between France and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, saw themselves demoted from third place to sixth in the first leg standings and Cork fell from second to third.

The teams, which are made up of amateur crews, are currently racing toward the African continent. They will then cross the South Atlantic, toward South America and the next port of call, Rio de Janeiro.